The Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña on Oct. 24, 2024.
(MV) — After 16 years in the minority, Republicans will take over the leadership of the Guam Legislature this January.
Fifteen lawmakers constitute the Legislature, and nine Republican senatorial candidates managed to earn spots among the top 15 vote-getters in the November election, according to the Guam Daily Post.
In addition, Republican Guam Delegate James Moylan defeated his Democratic opponent Ginger Cruz, garnering 52.69% of the votes cast.
Four incumbent lawmakers lost their seats in the Guam Legislature. Sen. Roy Quinata, a Democrat, missed 15th place to Republican candidate Eulogio Shawn Gumataotao by 280 votes.
Sens. Dwayne San Nicolas, a Democrat; Joanne Brown, a Republican; and Thomas Fisher, a Republican, placed 17th, 18th and 20th respectively.
Whipps vs Remengesau
In Palau, President Surangel Whipps Jr. won a second term by garnering 5,626 votes to defeat his brother-in-law Tommy Remengesau, a former four-term president, who received 4,103 votes.
According to Reuters, Palau is important to the U.S. military amid tensions with China. Palau is also among a dozen diplomatic allies of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a “province” of China.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te congratulated Whipps in a message on social media, saying there would be greater collaboration in tourism and infrastructure.
In a statement, Whipps said his government would seek to diversify Palau’s economy while protecting its ocean and forests.
Palau this year renewed a Compact of Free Association with the U.S., in a deal that will see the island nation receive $890 million in economic assistance over 20 years in return for allowing continued American military access to its maritime zone, air space and land.
Palau’s population of 18,000 is spread across an archipelago that sits between the Philippines and the U.S. military base on Guam.
Pula vs Mauga
In Amerian Samoa, Pulaalii Nikolao Pula and running mate Pulu Ae Ae Jr. defeated incumbent Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Lt Gov. Laapui Talauega Eleasalo Ale.
Pula and Ae, who are affiliated with the Republican Party, garnered nearly 60% of the votes cast.
A career civil servant, Pula has served as director of the Office of the Territorial and Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior for more than 20 years.
For his part, Ae is a U.S. Army retiree, who has headed the Pago Pago field office of Delegate Aumua Amata for the last 10 years. He is also a former member of the American Samoa House of Representatives.
American Samoa’s incumbent Republican delegate, Amata Coleman Radewagen — commonly known as Aumua Amata — was reelected, winning nearly 75% of the vote.
Her opponents were Democrats Luisa Kuaea and Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman, as well as independent candidate Fualaau Rosie Tago Lancaster.
